I can’t believe there is only a single weekend left to my “journey to nationals”. This week was incredibly fun and so worth all of the work put into it before hand. The Sunday we arrived, a welcome party was thrown in honour of the 2015 delegates. We met a few of our sponsors, met the other girls from the different provinces, and enjoyed cake and pizza. My favourite part would of been getting to know each of the girls, asking about each of their platforms, and just getting a sense of what this week would look like. I also met my roommate, who is such a sweetheart and we clicked immediately.

The next day was jam packed with a photo shoot, video shoot, and the interview segment of the competition. Girls were rushing off to get hair and makeup done and then rushing off to whichever event needed to be done. For me, that Monday went by insanely quick and I know we were all exhausted by the end as some girls didn’t finish until late at night.

Tuesday was rehearsals all day. Rehearsals for the preliminary night, and for the final show. We were in heels for a few hours at a time, walking and dancing our way to a completed routine. Another day down, and I realized just how fast this week was going to fly by. I remember discussing with a few friends how uneventful and almost boring our lives will be without preparing for this pageant. What on earth will we do with ourselves?

Finally it was a day to have fun, kick back, and relax. Sort of. On Wednesday, we had an amazing breakfast at eggalisious, a small restaurant, and then were off to a local canoeing camp where the delegates raced each other in dragon boats. We were wet and tuckered out, but knew there was more to come. After a quick change on the bus, we arrived at a Greg Frewin dinner and magic show! It was honestly the best surprise ever and the show featured tigers, dogs, and birds-nothing like I have ever seen before. After the show, we took a detour and drove through downtown Niagra and ended up stopping at Niagra Falls. It was beautiful and a crazy amazing experience that was so unexpected. It was an awesome day that I am so thankful for.

Today is Thursday, the day before the preliminary night. Nerves were flying all day but our directors somehow magnaged to take our minds off of things. We visited the Bowman Zoo in the morning where we had the chance to interact with a baby lion cub, a baby tiger, and a lemur. The animals were adorable and I loved wandering the zoo afterwards. We then made our way to two different malls where we made appearances and took pictures with multiple people. To be honest, we felt kind of famous. We ate our lunch at the Richtree Taco Truck, and received gift cards from the Yorkdale Mall.

Thank you both again for the sponsorship! To finish off the evening, we ended up going to Medieval Times, which was a dinner-show event building. I witnessed medieval jousting and A-list acting, while I enjoyed a messy medieval meal. For tomorrow, it’s back to forks and knives in order to fit the classy pageant roll.

I am so thankful for each experience and outing we were a part of and I feel super lucky to have been a part of Miss Teenage Canada this summer. Despite the end result, I will always have great memories of this event and I cannot wait to share more of my reign as Miss Teenage Southern Manitoba with each of you in the future. Thank you so much for reading.

Taco Tuesday? More like taco Thursday. Today the delegates were given the option of tacos or burritos for lunch at the Richtree Taco Truck, where they happily provided all 82 of us with food. I chose chicken tacos which were deliciously spicy, filling and exactly what many of us were craving. The staff were super sweet and accommodating to all of our specific needs, and the service was done and provided quickly. They let us take pictures with them, despite the heavy workload that somehow kept moving, and they let us take over their scheduled location within the mall leaving them with very little breathing room.

The Truck

The tacos were amazing!

Although the variety of different orders were most likely overwhelming and would of taken much longer than a rush order, each of the staff kept a smile on their face and at least looked like they were enjoying their job.

With that said, I would like to take the time to thank each of the previously mentioned staff for everything they did for us today. Thank you for providing the incredible food, friendly faces, and quick services. Lastly, thank you for letting us take over your food truck with happy hearts and not posting the “closed” sign until each and everyone of us was fed. Please follow the Richtree Market on Twitter and Instagram or check out their website!

As nationals are well underway, I’m left reflecting and taking in the whirlwind of preparation that took place in order for me to take part in this event. There were endless fittings and appointments, and then more essays, and information to send in and fill out. This experience has been amazing and unforgettable in every way possible but I know I would of never been able to manage it all alone. I would like to take the time to thank my family for everything they have done. I honestly have no words to explain how thankful and blessed I am to have them in my life.

My Family

My Sister

This pageant preparation has illuminated just how much my family does for me, and not just through the busy times, but constantly. They always accommodate for me and are willing to drop everything for me whether I show my thanks or not. I love them each so incredibly much.

My Mom

My dad provides insight and reassuring words whenever I feel stressed, while my mom knows what I’m thinking before I even open my mouth and relates to me on so many levels. My younger sister Katia is always asking how I am, making me care packages, and lightening the mood with her “funny” jokes, while my younger brother Aiden is repeatedly complimenting me and giving me hugs no matter the occasion. I am so lucky for all four of them and would be lost without their encouragement and care. The most perfect girl wouldn’t even come close to deserving them and I feel honoured to call them mine.

I believe that family is or should be a huge part of everyone’s lives. They provide stability and a shoulder to lean on throughout the hardest of times, and a familiar face with a goofy laugh throughout the happiest of times. They know your weaknesses, your strengths, and your favourite ice-cream. Families are like best friends, yet they are not allowed to leave or cut you off when you treat them poorly so in other words, treat them well! Ultimately, families are a pretty great thing. I am given a billion second chances a day, and only hope that one day I will learn to be as patient as them.

In conclusion, I just wanted to say thank you to them and everything they do and that I am so glad to have them in my life.

As a delegate for Miss Teenage Canada, we are each required to have a platform that is important to us and relevant to the many issues today. The content of this platform should bring awareness to many people and as a result have a bettering effect on society. My platform surrounds the idea of a healthy mental state and well being. I believe in balanced living including positive thoughts, fulfilling relationships and a rich education.

Balance your life as a gymnast would balance on the beam!

Balance Is Key

We all need to learn how to feel content with ourselves and where we stand in this vast world. Each and every one of us holds an important place in society and we need to realize that once we find our own healthy balance, we can contribute most effectively to our country.

With this healthy balance, we will learn to follow our own paths and maintain a healthy outlook on life. We will not define ourselves or others based on looks, income, or abilities. We will grasp a sense of the bigger picture on a global level rather than focus on “first world problems”.

Our thoughts will evolve and become intentional which will result in actions. We will learn more about ourselves, and others around the world. We will learn different ways in which we can help, whether it be locally, nationally, or globally.

Global Contribution: REPOST

We have already begun this movement right here at the Miss Teenage Canada pageant, through our contributions to Free The Children. We are learning how to live balanced lives through positive thoughts, our new fulfilling relationships, and through the learning opportunities and education we are each blessed with.

I chose this platform because it illuminates how the removal of discrimination and the induction of self acceptance could result in a much happier and productive population. This evolution of positive intentional thoughts will lead to many decisive solutions and new outlooks on life. Who wouldn’t want the topic of balanced living brought to light? Who wouldn’t want a constant reminder of how stabilized the ups and downs of life could become if each previously mentioned aspect was used to its fullest potential?

This is a very real and important matter to me as I personally have had a hard time juggling the many balls that tend to pull us apart throughout the everyday bustle. For example, school, relationships, jobs, or sports can all take a toll on each and every one of us. I have found that it is sometimes hard to cope when there is so much going on and so much to worry about. I have learned that we must slow down and look at each facet in order to become conscious of what factors within our lives may be getting an excessive amount of attention, or what factors within our lives may need more attention. Once this balance is restored, we can live as content and happy people. We can diminish the uncomfortable feelings that surround the instability of overwhelming day to day activities, and accept that everything we do and manage is enough.

YOU ARE ENOUGH

If I were to win the title of Miss Teenage Canada, I would like to promote this platform in many ways. I would like to start by establishing or founding an organization that would encourage teens or adults to talk about what may be causing them to feel tired, anxious or unbalanced over any or each aspect they are juggling. I would love to create a package that could be given out at the end of “seminars/sessions” that would include a blank checklist available for each of us to sort out what should take priority in our busy lives, along with a blank pie chart to provide a visual for each individual to fill out indicating how much time and attention they are giving to certain areas and where they could be applying themselves more. I would also love to give presentations or speak on behalf of people everywhere struggling with the day to day challenges. We all know how tough life can get and how busy and overwhelming it may seem at times. If we could slow down just enough to increase our awareness of those around us and listen to and encourage each other, we will find the mental clarity needed to be strong, confident citizens who will contribute to our society and ultimately make this world a better place.

What a crazy busy week full of planning, cleaning and preparing for our garage sale fundraiser! Multiple nights were spent pricing and organizing in hopes of raising a significant donation that would go towards the charity of Free The Children. I was slightly skeptical of how everything would come together, but we ended up having a huge turn out and I surpassed my original goal of fundraising money!

Garage Sale Fundraising

Garage Sale Fundraising

I would like to use this blog to highlight just how relevant and important community is. Friends, families and even strangers congratulated me and provided open ears ready to listen to my exciting ramblings of my trip to Toronto for nationals and my future goals, plans and ambitions throughout the garage sale day. I am incredibly thankful for each and every person within my community and how willing they are to come out and support me. I had a blast rekindling connections with people I hadn’t seen in ages and it just reminded me of how blessed and lucky I am to have such a warm and relatable town/ province.

Along with the garage sale, I also set up a booth at our local farmers market where I sold freedom floats (ice cream floats), bracelets, and accepted donations for free the children! I made posters and encouraged each passer by to give to this worldly cause. It was a great experience and my earnings contributed to my outstanding garage sale total.

Booth At The Local Farmers Market

The definition of community is a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. I believe that my community consists of the common qualities of appreciation, kindness, the ability to give, and relatability. Thank you all very much once again for your donations and the care shown towards my aspirations.

The home of polar bears, agriculture, hockey, and diverse ethnic groups. The home of beavers, Tim Hortons, and la crosse. Canada, my home. I revel in the fact that I get to call myself Canadian. I am Canadian, I constantly apologize, and I pronounce the last letter of the alphabet “zed” instead of “zee”. You may wonder what makes Canada great? What makes Canada special or different? What makes Canada the friendliest nation in the world?

Our diversity and multi-culturalism, our family like atmosphere, our willingness to put others before ourselves. As a nation, we choose peace instead of war, hope instead of futility, and love instead of hate. We accept others for who they are despite race, sexuality, or beliefs. We believe in equality and justice in everything we do. I am extremely blessed to have grown up in a country as amazing as Canada. My life has been filled with all of these things Canada stands for, and all of the things it houses.

Little Me Growing Up In Canada

I remember family ski trips to Banff, Alberta, visits to the CN tower in Toronto, Ontario with my closest friends, vacations at the cabin on Lake of the Woods, Ontario, road trips through the flat lands of Manitoba through Saskatchewan, and choir tours across British Columbia. Each of these adventures and experiences have shaped me into who I am today, and have illuminated the beauty within our incredible country.

Ski Racing

The CN Tower

The Glass Floor Within CN Tower

Manitoba Windmills From My Dad’s Airplane

I love how at ease I feel in Canada, whether it be within my familiar community or in another province. I love how parents are all “block parents” and look after the neighborhood children without being told. I love how we never judge a “book by its cover”, and are open to new relationships and different people.

We take pride in being Canadian. We celebrate our nationality. We celebrate Canada’s reputation. We celebrate our independence.

Canadian Flag At Our Cabin

Canada Day Fireworks

Together, we understand what it means to live in this breathtaking nation. From coast to coast, we keep Canada clean. The crisp air and white powdered mountains in British Columbia, the sharp smelling pine trees throughout the territories, the brilliantly colored prairies, and the rocky terrain and clean water towards the east, we take as much care in our environment as we do in human interaction. This goes to show that that is quite a bit.

We have grit and determination in every aspect of life. We downplay the weather and treat minus forty-five, as if it were minus ten. We have grit, and determination when it comes to innovation and union. We have strong morals and self respect. We never give up when the going gets tough.

My Dad And Charlie Braving The Cold

My Cousin’s Frozen Eyelashes

Canada is my home, and will forever be my home, no matter where I may end up. My character was built through Canada and is based off of what Canada stands for. This country will forever be a part of me, and to have that affect on someone goes to show just how amazing this nation really is.

Hello again, I feel as if it has been forever since I have posted a blog, so I thought I’d take the time to update you all and provide insight as to what I have been up to in regards to fundraising for Free The Children.

School has finally wrapped up and it seems as though all of our classmates and friends are winding down for the summer. They are all kicking back on the beach, throwing parties, and sleeping until noon, illuminating just how big of a job us as title holders have taken on, although, I wouldn’t change a thing. As Miss Teenage Canada delegates, we are all gearing up for an eventful month of planning, appearances, and fundraisers. Free The Children in particular is a huge organization that we are making a huge impact on. I had the opportunity to present to the student body within my high school before school closed for the summer and to get them involved with raising money for this incredible cause.

I read through the entire Free The Children website, researched as much as I could, and used email to contact and learn more about the different positive actions occurring across the world through this organization. I then created a powerpoint and set a date to present my newly acquired knowledge to my peers. I knew that creating awareness was already an awesome and huge part of what Free The Children stands for but why stop there?

Free The Children PowerPoint

I decided to try and raise money within my high school for Free The Children. As I go to a private school, we are required to wear uniform everyday. The same navy and white sweaters, polos, and kilts. So why not change it up? I came up with the idea that if each student brought $2.00, they could be out of uniform. I talked to our principal, and a few of the administrative staff and they agreed that it would be a great idea. I made posters and constant announcements, encouraging everyone to take part and donate to Free The Children.

Posters For Free The Children

NO UNIFORM

A few days later, I came to school out of uniform on the assigned date along with almost all of my classmates. The whole school was involved, from grade 9-12! I was extremely happy with the outcome as I raised $250.00! I hope to continue to raise even larger sums of money for Free The Children, and will keep each of you updated in my endeavors to achieve this through my blogs.

Yellow, the color of sunshine, hope, and happiness. It stands for freshness, clarity, energy, optimism, and joy.
Blue, the color is often associated with depth and stability. It symbolizes faith, truth, heaven, and is considered beneficial to the mind and body.

These colors together represent the Canadian Cancer Society, a group in which I have recently had the the pleasure and honour of representing. As the colors depicted, the Canadian Cancer Society stands for hope, positivity, improvement and faith. This group constantly works to rid the world of cancer, and has already made many discoveries and investments with the help of our donations.

Investing in the best research has led to tremendous progress against cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society now know more about what causes cancer, how it develops, how best to treat it and how they can improve the quality of life of people living with cancer. Today, over 60% of Canadians diagnosed with cancer will survive at least 5 years after their diagnosis. In the 1940s, survival was about 25%. How unbelievable is that?
This statistic goes to show just how incredible and driven the group is as a whole and how they will stop at nothing to defeat this monstrous disease.

As a part of the Canadian Cancer Society, I had the opportunity to help with school visits from grades three to five, as well as present at the local “ag days” convention in Altona, Manitoba generating awareness on skin cancer in particular. Summer is just around the corner, and children are more likely to be outside and exposed to the sun,thus creating a need for us to provide methods and ways in which they can protect themselves. We taught the kids the sun safety slogan of “slip, slap, slop”-slip on protective clothing, slap on a hat, and slop on the sunscreen-and also made bracelets with them out of sun sense beads that changed color depending on the UV index to act as a warning on sunny days.

Ag Days Convention

I also participated in the “Relay For Life” which was held in Steinbach, Manitoba . Despite the colder weather, tons of cancer survivors and those supporting the annihilation of the disease camped out and walked throughout the night on a track surrounded by inspiring lanterns in order to raise money to find a cure. It began at 7:00pm and finished at 6:00am, although I did not stay the whole night! I worked a small booth selling lap beads, which were beads that would be added to each necklace bought for every lap completed. It was amazing and heart warming to see so many supporters from the area come out and make the night an unforgettable one.

Steinbach Relay For Life

Lastly, as a volunteer and spokesperson for the Canadian Cancer Society, I was required to attend local Teddy Bear Picnics. I was lucky enough to spend two days with children and their teddy bears- once in Winkler, Manitoba and once in Morden, Manitoba-helping them to make more of the bracelets we had given out to the grade schoolers. I made a few new small friends each day, and was filled with great joy to be a part of something so important and inspirational to the kids.

Teddy Bear Picnic

I hope to continue this volunteer work in the future, impacting and changing lives for the better. When it comes to cancer, I would do anything to help make a difference or become a part of the cure. I have lost two family members to this horrific disease and I dream of a day where families will not have to go through the long painful process of cancer and its many outcomes. I believe that each contributive act towards this cause will help turn cancer into something of the past rather than a current concern. I believe that together we can create awareness and raise enough money to end cancer forever.